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Ihram, Its Wajibat and Mustahabbat

Ihram, Its Wajibat and Mustahabbat

The Mustahabbat ofIhram

There is no disagreement among the legal schools with respect to the ihrambeing an essential rukn of the `Umrah and all the three forms of the Hajj, namely, tamattu; qiran and ifrad. Also, there is no difference of opinion that ihramisthe first act of the pilgrim, irrespective of whether his purpose is `Umrah mufradah, or any of the three forms of Hajj. There are certain wajibat and mustahabbat related to the ihram.

The legal schools agree that it is mustahabbfor anyone intending ihramto cleanse his body, clip his fingernails, shorten his moustaches, and to take a bath (even for women undergoing hayd or nifas, for the aim is cleanliness). It is also mustahabbfor one intending Hajj to abstain from cutting the hair of his head from the beginning of the month of Dhu al‑Qi'dah, to remove the hair from his body and armpits, and to enter ihramafter the zuhr (noon) or any other obligatory prayers. It is also mustahabbto pray six, four or at least two raka`at. However, freedom from the state of ritual impurity (hadath)isnot a condition for the ihramto be valid.

According to the Hanafi and Maliki schools, if water is not available, one is relieved of the duty to take the bath (ghusl), and tayammum as an alternative is not permissible. According to the Hanbali and Shafi'i schools, tayammum substitutes ghusl. The Imamiyyah jurists differ on this matter, some consider it permissible, others not.

According to the Imamiyyah school, it is mustahabbto leave the hair of the head uncut, but according to the Shafi'i, Hanafi and Hanbali schools, it is mustahabbto shave the head. (al‑Fiqh `ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba`ah)

According to the Hanafi school, it is sunnah for one who wants to assume ihramto scent his body and clothes with a perfume whose trace does not remain after ihramexcept the smell. According to the Shafi'i school, it is sunnah, except when one is fasting, to apply perfume to the body after the bath. Also, perfuming the clothes does not matter. According to the Hanbali school, one may perfume the body; and the clothes with karahah. (al‑Fiqh `ala al‑madhahib al‑'arba `ah)

According to the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i schools, it is mustahabbfor the muhrimto pray two raka'at before assuming ihramafter the noon prayer or any other obligatory prayer. If he has no obligatory prayer to make at the time of ihram, he should offer six, or four or at least two raka`at for the ihram. (al‑Jawahir)

Al‑ 'Ishtirat 

Al‑Muhaqqiq al‑Hilli, the Imamiyyah scholar, in his work Tadhkirat al‑fuqaha', says that for one intending ihramit is mustahabbto make a condition with God at the time of assuming ihram, by saying:

اللهم انی ارید ماامرتنی به، فان منعنی مانع عن تمامه و حبسنی عنه حابس فاجعلنی فی حل.

O God, indeed I wish to fulfil Thy command, but if any impediment keeps me from completing it or a barrier obstructs me from it, exonerate me.

Abu Hanifah, al‑Shafi'i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal also consider it mustahabb. However, this ishtirat does not help in relieving one of the obligation of the Hajj if he were to encounter an impediment which keeps him from getting through it

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